Each player begins with the same vulnerability to attacks.
This vulnerability changes as one moves up in levels. The change in
vulnerability is dependent on class and other factors. For instance, a fighter
becomes less vulnerable to attack every level, whereas a mage must move several
levels to become less vulnerable. A 'hit' is when a weapon or "magical
bolt" (see below) makes contact above the knees and elbows and below
the neck. Head shots do not count, in order to encourage the safest game play possible.
Mundane weapons must make three 'hits' in order to take a first-level player
out of a round of play (this is called a 'kill'), enchanted weapons and magical
bolts must only make one 'hit' in order to achieve a 'kill'. The meaning of a
'kill' varies from situation to situation (see the sections on challenges,
quests, etc, below.) Life during the game is represented by the wearing of a
ribbon. As long as a character is alive, that ribbon is worn. Once a character
dies, that ribbon is removed in put in the player's pocket.

Hand Signals

Things happen in the game that may require a person to go
'out of character'. Whenever you want to speak with a DM as the player and not
as your character, remember to tap your head and say 'out of game'. Then you
may discuss with the DM whatever issue you are having. You will tap your head
again and say 'in game' to get back into character. If you have an issue with
the way a situation is handled or if you think someone is breaking the rules,
you must wait until AFTER a fight or battle to go out of character. If you are
ever injured in the game, hold your hand up high making a 'peace' sign and your
character will be ignored as the others continue to play. If you ever see
anyone who is holding up a 'peace' sign make sure to treat them like the wind.
They don't exist. The DM will contact someone to get them any help they need.

Forming Teams

Each group will register with a team. Each team will have at
least four and no more than eight players. Costs for a LARP event should run
$35-40 dollars. You will sleep in a dorm or in a cabin, which will function as
an inn or castle respectively in the game. A team must have a team leader, a
flag, and a team name. Teams will accumulate game points (see below), be
recruited as a team into larger armies (teams will not be split up for larger
battles except in very special circumstances), and gain glory together.
Individuals accumulate levels, weapons, and gold. Each team will be required to
spend 1 hour of each game as a group of NPC fighters and 1 hour as a group of
NPC Inn workers (see below). They will also be required to help with cooking,
registration and clean up. A schedule for each team will be given before the
game.

Registering Teams

A team can begin playing as soon as 4 members of their team
arrive. When a team reaches a quorum (four players), they will register with
the registration desk. They will register weapons (see below) and get their
quest and NPC assignments, as well as a DM to help them on their way.

Fighting- Fighting
should be as modest as possible. Aggressive game play will be penalized. This
includes any deliberate head shots. Remember that whether a player is tapped
lightly or hit hard, they result is the same so long as contact is in the 'hit'
area. Effective attacks that are as lightly treaded as possible will be
rewarded with game points, and levels.

Dungeon Masters

There will be Dungeon Masters (DM) throughout the game. Each
team will be assigned a DM to accompany them. The DM that accompanies your team
may change. Any DM will wear a name tag identifying him as a Dungeon Master. A
Dungeon Master's job is to ensure fair and equitable game play, and to ensure
that the story being developed by the playing of the game is as interesting as
possible. A team's DM will have all the information on each team's character.
He or she will be the one to call a character dead who has been hit and either
doesn't know it or isn't following the rules correctly. A DM will address 'out
of character' questions and clarify rules at appropriate times. When two teams
battle (see below), the two DMs will work together to ensure fair game play.
There may be times when DMs also act as NPCs. DMs have the same authority as
NPCs as they do as DMs. DMs have absolute power in the game. Do not argue with
a DM, ever. Never question a DMs decision once it is made. It will cost you
game points. DMs will keep up with important details throughout the quests and
battles, and may narrate as you go along. These details will be used to create
a particular history for your team when the game is over.

NPCs

Throughout the game you will encounter people playing
pre-assigned roles. These are not players, but non-playing characters. You
interact with them as features of the game. You can make no assumptions about
an NPCs intentions, abilities, etc. Playing through the game is the key to
doing well. Interact with NPCs as your character. Each NPC will have their own
set of rules that are idiosyncratic to them. Figuring out an NPCs personal
rules is part of the fun of playing LARP.

Good Game Play

Good game play is determined by knowing and following the
rules. That is why reading and getting VERY familiar with this handbook is so
important. Good game play is not about simply winning fights or even completing
quests... it is all about HOW you do what you are doing. Speaking in dialect,
acting out your character, living and playing AS your character...this is what
will make a game great and it earns more points than anything else.

Weapons

There are three types of weapons. There are mundane weapons,
which have 'duct tape' on them and have no glow sticks attached. There are
'enchanted' weapons and magical bolts. Magical bolts are thrown or shot from a
bow and arrow, only mages and rogues working closely with mages may use magical
bolts. Enchanted weapons have duct tape on them AND have glow sticks attached
to them. Finally there are 'permanently enchanted' weapons. These have no duct
tape on them and may or may not have a glow stick attached to them. Enchanted
weapons are given their enchantment by the spell 'enchant weapon'...but they
can be turned into mundane weapons by an enemy's dispel magic spell.
Permanently enchanted weapons are very rare, and cannot be disenchanted by
dispel magic. The only way to get a permanently enchanted weapon is through the
LARP game play itself. They are rewards at the end of the game.

If someone brings a store bought NERF or LARP weapon, it
will be marked at registration with one piece of duct tape. It will not be
considered permanently enchanted unless a DM decides to make it one as a part
of game play. This is to keep people from gaining advantages in the game
through monetary investment alone. Permanently enchanted weapons are the result
of game play ONLY. Each DM will know if they have someone with one of these
weapons on their teams.

All weapons must be registered when the game begins. a name
or identifying mark should be on every weapon. Weapons are subject to theft by
rogues. A weapon may be stolen for the duration of the game, but all weapons
that were not brought by the individual player must be returned at the end of
the game. Any weapon may be 'checked' with the DM at the registration desk and
is safe until retrieved. Even permanently enchanted weapons are subject to
theft for the duration of the game. Thefts do not stay permanent in
free-for-alls, night raids, and arena battles. In those situations, all weapons
must be returned to the person who brought them into the battle itself.

Gaining Levels &
Money

Gold pieces can be earned by arena battles, free-for-alls
and team battle (see below). Gold can be used at the Inn
to buy manna potions, healing potions, or to purchase weapons. Levels are
gained by good game play, by epic actions during battle, and especially by
staying in character. The more you play your role, the more likely you are to
gain levels. The gaining of a level will be represented by a name tag, which
will show your level. Only people with levels higher than 1 will get these name
tags. Levels mean something. The more levels you have the harder you are to
kill and the more options you have when it comes to skills and spells.

Game Points

Game points are accumulated mostly by staying in character
and helping to create a good story. Game play is more important than winning.
Fighting and winning battles are also worth game points, though what really
matters is good game play. Having an epic moment, whether winning or losing, in
a battle is worth more than winning the battle itself. Game points gain you
position during the "war" and earn you better sleeping arrangements.
They give you a more prominent place in the story that is being written, and of
course give you bragging rights and glory in the LARP community we are putting
together.

THINGS TO DO DURING THE GAME

The Inn

The Inn is where you spend
the night, where you eat your meals, and a place where you can buy extra
weapons and potions. There are two kinds of potions: manna potions are used to
restore all of a wizard's spells. Each wizard has a limited number of spells
per hour or per day (depending on the spell). If a spell is used, it can be
only regained by the use of a manna potion. Manna potions cost 20 gold pieces.
Once the money is paid, you will get a blue coin. That blue coin represents the
manna potions. It must be turned into your DM for your spells to be restored.
At the Inn you can also buy healing
potions. Healing potions restore
a player to full life. If a player is 'killed' and someone has a healing potion
on them, they can touch the player and call 'heal' and the player is restored
to full health. That means that whatever hit total they had before is erased.
So a basic player who could be killed by 3 mundane or 1 enchanted weapon and is
killed, after the healing potion they are once again killed only by 3 mundane
weapon hits or 1 enchanted weapon hit. A healing potion is represented by a red
coin. Once someone is healed, the coin must be promptly given to your DM. DMs
may deign to sell potions to you if you have more gold while you are out and
about. Otherwise, you will have to travel back to the Inn
to get more manna and healing potions. Healing potions cost 20 gold pieces. At
the Inn, there may be some weapons for sale
during the game. Any weapon 'bought' during the game with game gold must of
course be returned to St. Thomas
at the end of the event, but the weapon is yours unless stolen for the duration
of the event. Weapon costs vary depending on what you want to buy. Mundane
weapons can also be enchanted at the Inn for
10 gold pieces. There will be times set aside at the Inn
for storytelling. Taking advantage of this time, and especially telling stories
from other role playing games (LARP games you've played in the past, or D&D
games you've played), are worth game points. An Inn
can be a great place to extend game play. Challenging people and teams to
battles, and telling of the glory of your quests, all adds to the feel of the
game and expands role playing opportunities.

The Castles

The castles represent special sleeping arrangements for
those who gain the most game points the first day. They are marks of prestige
and add to your place in the story being written.

NPC Times

Every team will spend some time as a group of fighters
(orcs, or just evil knights, or whatever), and will spend some time working in
the Inn. If you do things like steal potions
or weapons while working at the Inn to benefit
your team, that will be a major violation and could result in getting thrown out
of the game, permanently. While playing as NPCs you are to live life as the
character assigned, and not as your PC character. Fighting NPCs go around and
attack players at random times. They just traverse the world we are playing in,
chasing down questing characters, entering as third parties in team battles,
and ruining the lives of free-for-all players. Only arena fighters and those
inside the Inns and Castles are free from NPC fighter rampages. NPCs must
listen to DMs the same as PCs. When you are assigned an NPC character, you will
be given new character sheets with new abilities and limitations. At the end of
your time as an NPC, you can return and get your old character sheets back.

Quests

Each team will have at least one quest to complete. This quest
can range from learning a special spell for the team's wizard, to slaying a
monstrous beast. On this quest you will likely have to solve riddles and
puzzles, and you will interact with various NPCs. Completing a quest is worth
game points, big time. How you complete a quest matters too. Every team will
have the same amount of time to complete their quests, roughly 5-6 hours. But
the quest must be completed in the midst of NPC times, challenges and more. Be
aware when you are making and accepting challenges how much time you have to
complete your quests. Failing to complete a quest is a big deal. During quests,
any character who is 'killed' walks with his ribbon in his pocket until healed.
This character walks alongside the DM, and can neither be spoken to nor speak.
They cannot be attack nor can they attack. They can do nothing in the game,
absolutely nothing, except walk with the DM and their team until they are
healed.

Team Challenges

At any time, one team can challenge another. The teams are
immediately brought to the team challenge area. If another team is fighting,
you will have a time to meet at the team challenge area assigned to you. Not
arriving at an assigned time for team challenge costs game points. Game points
are gained by giving a challenge, accepting a challenge, winning a challenge,
and playing well and fairly during a challenge. All 'team challenge' rules
apply (see the section for individual character classes). If a character has
been killed on a quest, then as soon as the team battle begins they are
restored to full life. Once a team battle ends, everyone is restored to full
life/health. Team Challenges last 30 minutes. Team challenges work in the
following way:

Each
team is assigned one side of the field or another, with a neutral area in
between (whether either side can go during set up times and use for
defense and attack). Each team chooses a jail, a base, and sets up their
flag somewhere visible.

Field
of play will be marked off at the beginning of the game. No fighting may
take place ANYWHERE except on the field of play. Characters can use trails
and the woods to move around, and to move into the field of play. But they
may only fight on the field of play itself. NO EXCEPTIONS.

A
round of play is initiated as soon as the member of one army crosses the
barrier between the two armies. Once a round of play is initiated, it
continues until the invading army returns to the other side, all the
members of either army are dead or captured, or the DM calls a round
ended.

Each
character class has abilities and limitations on what they can do during
team challenges. See the section below on 'character classes' for more
details on what each character class can do during team challenges.

Remember
that life in the game is represented by the wearing of a ribbon. In team
challenges, if a character is killed, that ribbon is removed and the
character must return to their team's base. If they are killed on the
opposing team's side, and a rogue asks for their weapon, that weapon is
forfeit unless stolen back. If a character encounters one of their own
priests or someone with a heal potion or heal spell BEFORE THEY REACH
THEIR OWN BASE, then that person may be 'healed' (see above) and return to
battle. Once a player is back on their own field of play, their weapons
can no longer be stolen. Once a player is back to their own base, they can
no longer be interacted with in any way until the round ends. They must
stay at their base as if they were the wind, until the round ends. Once
the round ends, everyone gets back their full life.

A
player may be captured if, when a killing blow is delivered, the person
delivering it yells out 'capture'. The person captured must then return to
the jail of the other team. They will remain there until a rogue from
their own team taps the jail itself (anywhere inside the area the other
team has assigned as the jail). If a rogue jail breaks someone, both the
rogue and the people freed will proceed to their own base without
interference. They will remain there as if 'killed' until the round ends. No
more than three captives may be held at any one time, if more than three
people are captured, all captives held are considered jail broken.

Game
points are gained during team battles by capturing and/of holding the
other team's flag or stealing back your own flag (only rogues can steal
flags), by stealing the other team's weapons (again, only rogues can do
this), by capturing enemies and holding them, by jail breaking captives,
by killing other team's players, by creative strategizing and as always by
staying in character and adding to the overall story of the battle. Team
battles can earn you game points and gold pieces.

DM's
may do things during the game to keep the game interesting, like jail
breaking one team's players that have been held for a long time or
stealing flags. Don't complain about this. Remember, winning is less
important than keeping the story interesting.

The
roaming band of orcs or other NPCs may enter the game at inopportune
times. Fighting these beings is not like fighting other PCs. How you
respond to these characters will help gain your game points.

Free For Alls

There will be several 'hunger game style' games played at
different times in various areas of the game fields. Everyone who enters a Free
For All will have their life and spells fully restored at the beginning and the
end of the round. Everyone's weapon will be put into a pile, and people will
team up in twos. All weapons will be returned to the person who originally
brought the weapon to the Free For All Battle Round. Only mages will be allowed
to retain their weapons. Everyone will then run for weapons and set about
killing each other. Kills are achieved as they are for the rest of the game.
Weapon restrictions remain the same. When a kill is achieved, the person will
return to a pre-approved central location. A thief may steal a weapon of a
killed player returning to this location, but remember that all weapons go back
to the person who had them at the beginning of the Free For All. The Free For
All continues until everyone in it is officially 'killed'. Then everyone
returns to full health and spells/prayers. The winner two players get gold and
game points for their team. All players will get some game points for their
team, and full health and spells. Additional game points may be awarded for
good role playing and clever strategy.

Arena Battle

Arena battles are one-on-one, two-on-two, or three-on-three.
Both groups enter only with whatever weapons and heal potions they have. Once
someone is killed, they have 10 seconds to be healed, or else they are out of
the battle. Once everyone is out of the battle for good, the battle is over. Everyone
enters only with the compliment of spells they have, but they will leave full
recharged with life and spells. Teams get game points for playing, for winning,
for good role playing and game play. Gold pieces will also be awarded to the
winner.

The Final War

After all the quests are complete, two team captains will be
chosen as 'kings'. They will then engage in horse-trading as they construct an
evenly-matched army. These two teams will then engage in a huge Team Battle for
30 minutes. The same rules will apply (see above and below). The winner of this
battle, plus certain individual players who will be recruited into the final
battle for story purposes, will face down a new army of evil mage-fighters,
orcs and other monsters and dangerous beings. The winning team in the final
battle will then get a set of new permanently enchanted LARP weapons to keep,
play a huge role in the final story that is written, and be crowned the
winners.

Night Raids

A couple of times throughout the night, but all before
midnight, after people are in the inns and castles, someone will yell out into
each room, "NIGHT RAID". Then people have 5 minutes to gather outside
the Inns for a special Free For All. Once the game begins, no one new can enter
it. All normal Free For All Rules apply. The winners gain gold to buy potions
and weapons for the next day's War.

CHARACTER CLASSES

Rogues

Rogues begin with the same vulnerability as everyone else: 3
hits with a mundane weapon or 1 hit with an enchanted weapon or magical bolt
will kill them. Rogues start out only able to wield small tomahawks, short
swords or daggers. ROGUES CANNOT USE ENCHANTED WEAPONS HAND TO HAND WEAPONS.
THEY CAN STEAL ENCHANTED WEAPONS, BUT THEY CANNOT USE THEM. They may also use a
bow and arrow provided they are standing near a mage who has summoned the
arrows. They can use no more arrows than the number the mage is allowed to
summon at that time (see below).

During Quests- Rogues may steal any
weapon from any enemy they kill provided they call 'steal' as soon as
they've officially 'killed' an enemy fought during the quest. Rogues
cannot steal magical bolts. There may also be quests only the rogue can
perform, like walking through a trapped area.

During Team Battles and the Final War- Rogues
can walk in the forest and along trails. A rogue, like every other
character, may only actually engage in battle in the marked off battle
area. Rogues are the only ones that may steal flags, or jail break
captives. Rogues are able to steal anyone's weapon (except magical bolts)
if they are 'killed' on the rogue's team's field and walking back to their
own side. A rogue may not steal the opponent's weapon if they are on the
opponent's side of the field. Weapons in the possession of the thief when
the group battle ends remain in the thief's possession unless stolen by
someone else, until the entire LARP game is over, at which time of course
they return to the person who originally brought them.

Free For Alls and Night Raids- Rogues
may steal weapons from anyone as they are approaching the pre-assigned
base. All weapons return to original owners when Free For Alls and Night
Raids end.

During Arena Battles- Rogues may
steal weapons by calling 'steal' immediately as they kill someone. All
weapons are returned to original owners when Arena Battles end.

At Higher Levels

Rogues above level one may have the ability to use any
mundane weapon. They may be harder to kill, needing more damage to be taken
out. They may also have one of the following abilities. Remember that rogue's
abilities cannot be re-upped by manna potions. Whatever per-day restrictions
there are, they remain.

Incredible Luck- Rogues are good at setting up things
before hand so that luck often turns in their favor. A good example of
incredible luck is Flynn Rider from TANGLED, whose swashbuckling life
causes incredible things to happen, often to his advantage. A rogue may
call out 'incredible luck' and something in their favor will happen. If
done in battle, this can be an incredibly powerful tool.

Deflect Attack- A rogue who calls
this out can take all the damage inflicted on them and put it on someone
else.

Backstab- A rogue with this
ability, if they hit anyone with a weapon 1 foot long or shorter (total),
automatically kills their opponent.

Mages

Mages begin with the same vulnerability as everyone else: 3
hits with a mundane weapon or 1 hit with an enchanted weapon or magical bolt
will kill them. A mage may summon magical bolts. How many magical bolts depends
on how many bolts a mage is allowed to summon in a day. Only mages and rogues
to whom mages give bows and arrows are allowed to use ranged weapons. Bolts can
be fired as arrows from a pre-approved LARP-style bow and arrow, with the limit
being on how many arrows can be fired per day. A mage may also use very soft
foam balls or bean bags. All mages start with a different number of the same
spells. Each spell works differently (see below). A mage who has a bow and
arrow is never required to relinquish the bow, but no more arrows may be fired
in a single period of time than they are allowed. The only weapons mages may
use at first level are magical bolts.

see below).

During Quests- There may be quests
only a mage can perform, like dispelling a magical wall that obstructs the
group's journey.

During Team Battles and the Final War- Mages
can walk in the forest and along trails.

Free For Alls and Night Raids- Mages
get their full compliment of spells back as these battles begin and after
they end.

During Arena Battles- Mages get a
full compliment of spells after these battle

Magical Bolts/Arrows- 2 Spell slots
gets you 3 arrows or bolts. One hit from these is equivalent to being hit
by an enchanted weapon (see above)

Magical Wall- 2 Spells Slots gets
you one wall. If you lay three glow sticks down, it creates an impervious
wall. There are two ways to bring down a magical wall: 1) someone uses a
dispel magic spell on the wall. 2) someone from inside the wall moves
through it or attacks from within it. During team battles, rogues are good
for taking down magical walls. If they walk behind enemy lines and then
move through the wall from the other side, it is dispelled.

Enchant Weapon- 1 Spell slot gets
you one enchantment. You enchant a weapon by tying a glow stick to it. A weapon
is enchanted until a dispel magic spell is cast upon it. If a dispel magic
spell is cast on an enchanted weapon, the person wielding it must stop and
remove the glow stick. or cease using the weapon.

Dispel Magic- 3 Spell slots gets
you one dispel magic. A dispel magic spell can be useful during some
quests, as there will be times when such a spell is necessary. A dispel
magic spell can remove a magical wall or an enchantment from a
non-permanent enchanted weapon. To dispel magic you must describe exactly
what you are doing, and in the hearing and sight of the person to whom you
are doing it. For instance, if you come upon a magical wall, you must tell
a DM, "I am dispelling this magical wall." If you are dispelling
an enchanted weapon, you must make sure the fighter hears you say, "I
am dispelling your enchanted weapon."

At Higher Levels

Mages will very slowly get harder to kill. They will also
get extra spells. For instance, a person who has 3 bolts at level 1 may have
more at higher levels. They may also have one of the following special spells:

Heal- The mage can mimic a priest's
healing ability. They merely make physical contact with a dead player and
call out 'heal'. A mage can do this once per battle, rather than once per
hour.

Sleep Spell- The mage must get
within eye and ear shot of the intended target. They then call out 'sleep'
and the player or NPC must mimic sleep until someone makes physical
contact with them, much like a reverse magical wall. This spell can be
cast once per day.

Confusion- The mage must get within
eye and ear shot of the intended target. They then call out 'confusion'
and the player or NPC must spin around seven times. This spell can be cast
twice per day.

Reflect Damage- A mage who calls
this out can take all the damage inflicted on them and put it on someone
else. A mage may do this twice per day.

Priests

Priests may not use weapons, except under very restricted
circumstances during some quests. Priests are healers and have the ability to
enhance others' abilities and turn evil away. Priests begin being able to use 5
spells per day.

During Quests- Priests may have
challenges only they can face. For instance, they may need to turn a
vampire the group has no chance of defeating.

During Team Battles and the Final War- Priests
can walk in the forest and along trails. Priests may heal anyone who has
been 'killed' and is walking to their own home basePro.

Free For Alls and Night Raids- Priests
can get all prayers restored by these battles and arena battles.

All priests have a certain number of prayers they can pray
per hour. They do not have to pre-choose how they will spend these prayers as
mages do. Manna potions do not work on priests, priests can only regain spells
through waiting and through arena battles, team battles, and free-for-alls. Priests
have the following heavenly abilities:

Heal- If a priest makes contact
with a player and calls out 'heal', that player is healed, as if a healing
potion has been administered.

Turn Evil- Any evil being like an
orc, werewolf, or vampire, troll, etc, can be turned by a priest holding
up a cross and calling out 'turn'. They offending creature will then run
away in terror. This will not work on all human evil beings, like
sorcerers.

At Higher Levels

Priest's resistance to damage gains very slowly, slower than
any other character. But they can quickly become massively effective at
empowering their team. At a higher level, priests may gain the following
prayers:

Bless- This can only be used once
per day. If a priest blesses something, it will temporarily gain some
incredible ability (like resistance to all magical weapons, or the ability
to burn evil creatures by touch alone.) Bless can obliterate an evil
creature completely.

Prophecy- The priest can get some
important piece of information about the final war or about a quest. This
cannot be something the priest can control, it just happens.

Fighters

All fighters can use any weapon, and they can dual-wield.
Only fighters can dual wield weapons. They raise in resistance to damage very,
very quickly as they level up. For instance, a third level fighter must be hit
by five mundane weapon attacks and two magical weapon attacks (or magical
bolts) to be 'killed'. The only weapons fighters cannot use are magical bolts
or bows/arrows.

During Quests- Groups will often
face enemies that only fighters are going to be able to stand up to
effectively.

During Team Battles and the Final War- Fighters
are the only class that cannot venture into the forests or on the trails.
FIGHTERS MUST STAY IN THE BATTLE
AREAS OF THE TWO ENCAMPMENTS AT ALL TIMES.

Free For Alls, Arena Battles and Night
Raids- Fighters regain full health at the beginning of these.

At Higher Levels

Fighters quickly become resistant to damage, they may also
gain the ability to inflict more damage than the normal fighter. They may also
have the following ability:

Magic resistance- A fighter may,
once per day, gain the ability to fend off one magical attack.

Character Sheets:

Every player needs two copies of their character sheets: one
for them to keep, and one for their DM